When to move rockwool seedlings to dutch buckets

[gdgdad]

Stan, per your post, I soaked a rockwool cube and placed it on top of the aeroponic cloner bucket (see pic in previous post). I marked the time @ 3:20 pm, and when I checked at 7:00 pm is was still wet and a fairly "heavy". So as I suspected, these things will hold water for many hours. I picked up the cube again today and it is indeed still damp - the next day! Any suggestions on sprayer timing revision?
Also, I added in an aerator,(two stones), and just left that running, figure I can't over oxygenate the water.....
Two tallest seedlings seem to be "stretching" toward sunlight, but they appear to be starting "true leaves", albeit very small (see attached pic - 2, might be difficult to see). I'm turning the net cups periodically to get them to lean in the opposite direction. Again, bucket is sitting outside on my lanai.
Temps have cooled to upper 80's, humidity 46% today, tomorrow morning in 60's, upper 80's by afternoon and humidity about 52%.
Thanks!! GDGDAD

[Stan]

Water it 3 times starting at sunrise, 12 noon and at sunset. Water once at night around 12 0r 1AM.

When you see a couple roots starting to come out of the rockwool switch the water schedule with the 1 I quoted earlier (more frequent watering schedule) as you don't want the exposed roots to dry out. That would kill the plants.

[gdgdad]

Stan, I’m using my Apollo timer, which has a minimum duration of 1 minute, so here’s what I’ve programmed:
Sunrise 7:30 am - duration 1 minute
Sunset 7:02 pm – duration 1 minute
Nighttime: 1:00 am – duration 1 minute
Aerator runs continuously
I’ll check for roots frequently and adjust timing when I see some. I’m betting it will a while before I see roots, never did when I started them indoors even though they got 5 to 7 inches tall, and now I’m using 2” cubes (as opposed to 1”). Again I’ve not added any nutrients, using only PH adjusted water. Fingers crossed…..

Thanks!

[Stan]

Ok just check once a day on the plants if you notice they look weaker give an extra watering or 2 during the day. Aerator only needs 15 - 60 minutes once during the night.

You will see roots faster outdoors. Under artificial lights they become leggy fast and the roots don't. In an aeroponic cloner outdoors the stem gets thick and the roots get long. Keep me up to date on how things go. Keep a yearly journal consisting of watering schedule, amount of nutrients, ph with outdoor temps to see what works and when and what doesn't.

[gdgdad]

Stan – keeping you posted. The Hydroton arrived and I’ve carefully added it to the net cups (see pics). After THOROUGHLY rinsing pebbles, I first filled the gaps (left via putting a square cube in round net cup) with small pebbles, then used larger pebbles to fill in and prop up seedlings. All 3 of the seeds started on 10/11 are sprouting, one just over a half in high. On the “new” seedling cups, I only placed Hydroton on the perimeter, mainly to block light. Tallest seedling is about 3 ½“ high, but still no roots out of the cube yet. To me it looks "leggy", but there are true leaves. When (i.e. in height or time) would you expect I’d see roots protruding from cubes? Everything else remains the same, i.e. bucket is kept in shade on lanai within10 feet of direct sunlight, watering is 7am, 7pm, and 1am for 1 minute. Temps running upper 80's with humidity in the low to mid 70's. Thanks again for your advice and direction..... fingers crossed!

[Stan]

The seedlings are still in infancy. The stems are still white when they should already be turning green. When that happens the root system will take off. So maybe another week or 2 before roots come out of the cubes.

I would add the slightest amount of fertilizer to the water now it will quicken the process. Increase nutrient watering once every 2 hours during daylight hours the seedling will suck up all the nutrients they need to grow faster.

[gdgdad]

Stan, I’ve drained the bucket and re-filled with nutrient solution (MiracleGro for Tomatoes @18-18-21) at ¼ strength and balanced PH at 6.0 (post nutrient). The timer’s set for daylight hours 7am/9/11/1pm/3/5/7pm (every 2 hours) - one minute durations. Can’t believe the “new” sprouts, one day a ½ inch, next day >1”!! BTW – we have some “followers”!!!! 285 views! Good advice spreads fast! I’ll keep you posted on progress.

gdgdad